Dispensing device



Aug. 21, 1945. w Q BROWN 2,383,367

msransme mzvrcg Filed July 26, 1943 finnentdr Milk/F Gttomeu Patented Aug. 21, 1945-- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING DEVICE Walter 0. Brown, Detroit, Mich. Application July 26, 1943, Serial No. 496,243 2 Claims. (01. 206' 42) This invention relates to devices for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules or other elements, the object being to provide a container of a form having cells to receive a number of the elements from which they may be dispensed one or more than one at a time as may be desired.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a container having a series of cells for the articles to be dispensed and may be small in size containing a few cells for the articles to be dispensed or it may be of a size having cells to contain a considerable number of articles. Whatever the size of the container may be however, the structural arrangement of the parts is such that by moving the cover in respect to a container having a slot in one face thereof, one may be moved relative t the other by means of the thumb and fingers of one hand arid thus project an end of the container from the end of the cover. With the terminal edge of the cover extending at an angle to a transverse row of cells containing pills or tablets, movement of the cover in respect to the container enables the operator to expose one or more tablets of a transverse row and by turning the container and cover with the exposed cell or cells facing in a downward direction the pill in the exposed cell or cells will be discharged by gravity.

A dispensing device embodying my invention may be made of any desired size but in any case the cover member and the container are relatively slidable between the thumb andfinger s of one hand of the user, the container being movable relativ to the cover or the cover relative to the container.

In either case the transverse row of cells in the container are at such angle to an edge of the cover that one or more than one articl of a transverse row may beexposed at a time to permit dispensing of the articles contained therein. The number of exposed articles may be determined by the relative position of the cover and the container as is hereinafter more fully described.

Various forms in which a, structure embodying my invention may be made are shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one form of container and cover member.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the cover member I i of rectangular form open at each end to receive the container 2. The cover member has similar tabs 3 and 4 at each end forming an extension of the side edges of the cover member I each being foldable inwardly over the end of the container. There is also provided at each end of the cover an extension 5 having an end portion 6. The terminal edge 1 of the portion 6 is turnable to within the end of the cover member and is formed on a straight line at an angle other than a right angle to the end of the container slidable in the cover. The cover has a slot 8 in the side opposite the side to which the extensions 5 are connected through which the bottom of the container is exposed and thus by placing the thumb on one face of the coverand the fingers of the same hand contacting the portion of the container exposed in the slot, the container may be moved outwardly from one end or the other and thus expose a portion of the open side of the container.

The container 2 as shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a series of cells formed of crossed strips arranged at a right angle to the end and the side walls and thus forming rectangular cells. When the container is projected, the extension 5 having the angular terminal edge 1 overlies the open side of the cells. As shown in Fig. 1 only one cell is uncovered to'permit dispensing of the pill or other article therein. Obviously the container may be projected as indicated by dotted line a to expose all the cells of a row to thus permit the dispensing of articles from all the cells of the row.

It is to be understood that preferably each end of the cover member is of the same form that is, it has a foldable flap end with a terminal edge at an angle to a transverse row of cells. Obviously if morethan a single row of tablets is to be dispensed the container is moved to the extent to expose the desired number of cells and articles therein.

'Ilhe device as herein disclosed is simple and inexpensive in character and as hereinbefore described is readily operable by the fingers and thumb of one hand. of the user to dispense one or more than one tablet as may be desired. I-llaving thus briefly described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules or other elements comprising a container having cells opening through one face thereof and arranged in parallel rows both longitudinally and transversely thereof, an open ended cover member in which the container is slidable, the cover member having a foldable end portion extending from one side thereof and having an end edge at such angle to a transverse row of cells on... cover member in which the container i slidable, the cover member having foldable end flaps at each end the terminal edge of which is at such angle to a transverse row of cells that, by moving the container relative to the cover, the cover may be positioned with the said angular edge of the flap exposing a desired number of cells of a transverse row to thereby permit the exposed element or elements to be discharged by gravity through turning of the device with the cells facing downwardly.

WALTER 0. BROWN. 

